The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA) basketball championships are all set for next Monday at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

The pennant-winning HO Nash Lions will face the CH Reeves Raptors in a finals rematch from last year in the junior girls’ division.

For the junior boys, the DW Davis Royals are set to take on the Anatol Rodgers Timberwolves.

In the senior girls’ division, the CR Walker Knights are matched up with the pennant-winning CV Bethel Stingrays.

The Rattlers’ senior boys are back on the hunt for yet another championship against the second seeded Timberwolves.

Junior Boys

The SC McPherson Sharks appeared to be en route to an upset win against the Timberwolves. However, a massive turnaround in the fourth quarter led to a 49-43 win by the higher seed.

The Timberwolves had to overcome a sluggish start which saw them trail 15-9 going into the second half. Suddenly, their offence and defence kicked into high gear. The team collectively poured in 40 points in the second half and outscored the Sharks 40-28.

Despite going into the fourth down 7, the Timberwolves validated their second seed and tied the bout at 42 with less than two minutes on the clock. They moved ahead 47-45 and the Sharks had a chance to get within three at the charity stripe but were unsuccessful on both attempts.Joshua Russell was a monster on offence for the Timberwolves. He powered his way into a game-lead- ing 27 points as the Sharks had no answer for him on defence in the second half.

Kavashti Rahming, of the Sharks, mailed in a team-high 14 points.

Junior Girls

The Raptors and Lions will meet again after the CH Reeves junior girls ended the Royals season 27-24 yesterday. The Royals got ahead 13-10 at the half but a strong fourth quarter was all the Raptors needed to put the exclamation point on the victory.

After watching the Royals go into the fourth with a 21-15 advantage, the Raptors outscored them 12-3 to close out the game.

Tajhaniqua Morley was a Jill of all trades for the Raptors with a side-high 22 points.

Vonnisha Rolle put together a nine-point scoring effort for the Royals in the loss.

Senior Boys

The CC Sweeting Cobras gave the Timberwolves a tough matchup but their opponents ultimately pulled off a 71-59 win to set up a sequel of last year’s finals.

The Timberwolves took an early 21-10 advantage to conclude the opening period and went into the break up 43-29.

In the third quarter, the result remained unchanged with the team maintain- ing a comfortable 15-point lead at the 2:11 mark. They never let the Cobras get within striking distance and were able to secure the win.

Senior Girls

The senior girls’ championships will be without the defending champions this time around. The Knights ran away with a come from behind victory 54-53 to upset the Rattlers last night. Last year’s pennant winners seemed all but ready to book another trip to the finals after running away 33-23 at the end of the third period. However, the Knights continued to chip away the lead and eventually took over 47-46 with under 3:00 to play.

The tides permanently shifted in the contest following a slight scuffle between opposing players but it was in the Knights’ corner. With the Rattlers ahead 53-52

and only 8.8 seconds on the clock, Shamaraja Cummings stepped to the stripe and hit two clutch free throws to put the Knights in control.

CI Gibson’s Tamisha Reckley had one last chance to save the season or force OT but was unable to hit any of her final two free throw attempts. Cummings mailed in a team-high 25 points for the Knights.

Last year’s MVP Jada Francis went down swinging with 21 points for the Rattlers.